Improvement in hand-guides for piano-forte players



W. 0. BREWSTER. Hand-Guides for Piano-Forte Players.

No.15ll98, Patented May26,1874.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM OTIS BREISTER, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-GUIDES FOR PIANO-FORTE PLAYERS.

Specilcation forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,198, dated May 26, IS7/1; application filed April 18, 1874.

To all, whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM Olrs BREWS TER, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State ot' New York, have invented certain lmprovements in I'l'and-Guides 'for Piano-Forte Ilayers, of which the following is a speciiication The invention relates to a device by which pupils and players of the piano-forte will be enabled to acquire a correct position for the hands and wrists, and thereby give proper ac tion to the lingers; and theinvention consists in liircviding two metal vertical side pieces or clamps fastened to the frame ot' a piano-forte in front of the keyboard, at a sui'icient distance apart, and provided with arms which hold two longitudinal guide-rods set in adjusting-holes in the arms. It further consists in making the arms oi' each clamp adjustable higher or lower, all as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective, showing the guide attached to a pianoforte 5 Figs. 2 and 3, side views, showing diii'erent positions in using the device, Fig. 4, detail view.

A A represent the two metal side pieces, which clamp at the bottom by a thumb-screw, d, to the main l'rame B of a piano-fortejust in front of the keyboard, as shown, C C are two guide-rods, whose ends set into the arms b b', which are provided with a series of holes, a a, for that purpose, and which allow of an adjustment oi' the rods'higher or lower to suit the player, a suiiicient spa-ce being rleft hetween the two rods C G, through which the player inserts the hands, as shown in Figs. 3 and et. The arms b b of each clamp, and which hold the rods C C. swingup and down on a thumbscrcw, c, which set either of the rods, or both, at various degrees of height or depression, so that the position of the wrist may be raised or lowered, and the upper rod or guide C lowered, as in Fig. 3, to keep the lingers in a vertical position. The rods are made long enough to allow oi' a movement over the keys right and left of about two and a half octaves, or more, it' required.

This invention is very important, especially to beginners, to give a correct action to the fingers and wrist, cutting ofi' all aid from the hands, thus at once training them to correct motion, and throwing the labor of the exercise upon the fingers, where it belongs.

Ihe wrist touches lightly on the lower rod, the upper rod touches lightly the back of the hand, preventing the 'dying up of the hands, as in Fig. 2, and, when rod b is lowered, keeps the fingers in a vertical position, as in Fig. 3.

The longitudinal arms b b can be swung back with the rod C, so as to prevent the wrists in octave-playing from rising out of the center of motion.

It gives healthy and muscular activity to the fin gers, as well as iiexibility and independence.

By the use of my hand-guide months ot' technique or tedious mechanical practice can be done away with.

It is a cheap prevention, and a certain and speedy cure for mechanical faults of students and players in general.

I claiinf The hand-guide yherein described, consisting of the two side clamps A A, provided with the swinging arms b I1', held by thumb-screws c c', the adjusting-holes c ai, and two guide-rods, C C', all arranged to operate in connection with the key-board or' a pianoiortc, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specilied.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: WVM. O. BREWSTER.

J. R. BRAKE, T. H. PARsoNs. 

